BOSS John Snape insists Worcester City will not give up on mounting a promotion push “until it is mathematically impossible”.

City sit ninth, 17 points off the Midland Football League summit after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Walsall Wood – albeit with three games in hand on leaders Ilkeston Town.

With diminishing hope of securing the title and two cups still up for grabs, Snape was asked whether attention could shift towards knockout glory when City travel to Studley for tonight’s MFL Cup third round tie (7.45).

But with a growing list of injuries and young guns keen to shine, Snape explained he would stick with his tendency to shuffle the pack.

“Our main priority is to be as competitive as we can for the rest of the season,” said Snape.

“As results showed over the weekend and the past few weeks, everyone seems capable of beating anyone at the minute.

“We will keep going until it is mathematically impossible for us to do it.

“At this club we need to bring through the youth and have tried to put in some stepping stones with players going out to Malvern Town, Black Country Rangers and Pershore Town in the league below.

“I still need to look at them within the group and in the team. At the same time, they need to be good enough to out there and win it.

"The likes of Ethan Moran, James Lemon, who has just come in and was disappointed not to get on the score sheet on Saturday, Riley Keasey and Josh Willis are ones I want in the first team.”

Forward Aaron Basford, on work experience from Cheltenham Town, is likely to feature while flexible defender Sam Hall, who featured for City last season and is currently playing for Dudley Town and Kidderminster Harriers under-23s, may come into contention.

“I have always liked Sam, he had a knee operation and has been working his way back,” said Snape.

“We will have to see what we can do on that one.”

On the injury front, Tom Fishwick (ribs), Chris Withington and Jamie Smith joined James Baldwin and Jordan Stoddart on Snape’s list of concerns, which the boss admits “has grown a fair bit”.

Worse news has landed in the past week that experienced defender Andy Gallinagh is no closer to making a comeback.

“Andy has had a setback and is struggling with his knee,” said Snape.

“I don’t know the full details but I cannot see him pitching in for a while.”

City had been drawn at home but reversed the last-16 tie to Studley’s Beehive headquarters. The winners host Romulus in the quarter-finals.

MFL CUP QUARTER FINAL DRAW: Ilkeston Town v Quorn, Shepshed Dynamo or Long Eaton United (Jan 22) v NKF Burbage, CITY OR STUDLEY v Romulus, Coventry Sphinx v Chelmsley Town.